Weevils are beetles belonging to the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small – less than 6 mm in length – and herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They belong to several families, with most of them in the family Curculionidae. It also includes bark beetles, which while morphologically dissimilar to other weevils in lacking the distinctive snout, is a subfamily of Curculionidae. Some other beetles, although not closely related, bear the name "weevil", such as the biscuit weevil, which belongs to the family Ptinidae.
Caridae is a small Gondwanan family of weevils. They are considered part of the primitive weevil group, because they have straight rather than geniculate (elbowed) antennae. The insertion of the antennae on the rostrum cannot be seen from above. Caridae also lack spiracles on abdominal tergites 6 and 7. The prothorax lacks lateral carinae. It has been suggested that the fossil weevil Eccoptarthrus belongs in this family, which would result in a change in the family name ; this proposal has been rejected by most coleopterists (e.g.)
Brentidae, sometimes known as the primitive weevils, is a cosmopolitan family of primarily xylophagous beetles also known as straight-snouted weevils. The concept of this family has been expanded with the inclusion of three groups formerly placed in the Curculionidae; the subfamilies Apioninae, Cyladinae, and Nanophyinae, as well as the Ithycerinae, previously considered a separate family. They are most diverse in the tropics, but occur throughout the temperate regions of the world. They are among the families of weevils that have non-elbowed antennae, and tend to be elongate and flattened, though there are numerous exceptions.
The New Zealand giraffe weevil, Lasiorhynchus barbicornis, is a distinctive straight-snouted weevil in the subfamily Brentinae, endemic to New Zealand. L. barbicornis is New Zealand's longest beetle, and shows extreme sexual dimorphism: males measure up to 90 mm, and females 50 mm, although there is an extreme range of body sizes in both sexes. In males the elongated snout can be nearly as long as the body. Male giraffe weevils use this long rostrum to battle over females, although small males can avoid conflict and 'sneak' in to mate with females, sometimes under the noses of large males. The larval weevils tunnel into wood for at least two years before emerging, and live for only a few weeks as adults.
Trachelizinae is a subfamily of primitive weevils in the family of beetles known as Brentidae. There are at least 110 genera and 710 described species in Trachelizinae.
Eutrichapion viciae is a species of pear-shaped weevil in the family of beetles known as Brentidae.
Eutrichapion is a genus of pear-shaped weevils in the beetles family Brentidae. There are about eight described species in the genus Eutrichapion.
Apioninae is a subfamily of pear-shaped weevils in the family of beetles known as Brentidae. There are at least 20 genera and 80 described species in Apioninae. They feed on living vegetation and sometimes on galls, making them occasional pests or tools of biological control.
Omphalapion hookerorum is a species of pear-shaped weevil in the family of beetles known as Brentidae.
Omphalapion is a genus of pear-shaped weevils in the family of beetles known as Brentidae. There are about five described species in Omphalapion.
Perapion curtirostre is a species of pear-shaped weevil in the family of beetles known as Brentidae.
Perapion is a genus of pear-shaped weevils in the family of beetles known as Brentidae. There are about 12 described species in Perapion.
Stenopterapion meliloti is a species of pear-shaped weevil in the family of beetles known as Brentidae.
Stenopterapion is a genus of pear-shaped weevils in the family of beetles known as Brentidae. There are about six described species in Stenopterapion.
Cylas formicarius, the sweet potato weevil, is a species of sweet potato weevil in the beetle family Brentidae. It is found in Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, Northern Asia, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, Southern Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and temperate Asia.
Cylas is a genus of sweet potato weevils in the beetle family Brentidae. There are more than 20 described species in Cylas.
Cyladinae is a subfamily of sweet potato weevils in the family of beetles known as Brentidae. There are two genera in Cyladinae, Cylas Latreille 1802, and the extinct genus Miocenocylas Legalov 2018.
Heterobrenthus is a genus of primitive weevils in the beetle family Brentidae. There are at least three described species in Heterobrenthus.
Stereodermus exilis is a species of primitive weevil in the beetle family Brentidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and North America.
Trichapion rostrum, the baptisia seed pod weevil or wild indigo weevil, is a species of weevil in the family Brentidae.
